Floor mat



NOV. 1, 1949 MERRALLS 2,487,027

FLOOR MAT Filed June 12, 1943 .Fnmz M 1145294443 INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 1, 1949 FLOOR MAT Franz N. Merralls, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Rubbercraft Corporation of California, Ltd., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 12, 1943, Serial No. 490,569

12 Claims.

This invention relates to floor mats'of a general construction heretofore Well known in the art, comprised, with connecting means, of a plurality of small blocks or units of substantially rectangular parallelepiped form, juxtaposed with upper and lower surfaces in corresponding parallel planes, the overlapped end portions of said blocks or units being hinged together to provide flexibility as well as to leave spaces between their intermediate portions, a small amount of compressive resilience being, in some instances, provided by the material (such as rubber composition) of which said block-units have occasionally heretofore been made; although frequently they have also been made of fiber, which is practically non-resilient.

Obviously, compressive resilience is a very desirable quality in a floor mat; and it is a principal object of the present invention to provide Wood, fiber, plastic, or other practically non-compressibly resilient materials with a substitute for compressive resilience of the material in an article of the character above generally described, by cutting comparatively long slots from opposite ends longitudinally into each block-unit which, under weight, will permit utilization of the natural bending flexibility of the comparatively thin strip of material to which the bearing surface of the block-unit is reduced by the slotting, thus permitting the material under weight to spring compressively a distance measured by the width oi the slot.

It is also an important object to conserve much needed material for war purposes by substituting wood or the like for rubber or other resilient products.

Availability, comparatively low cost and workability of material, simplicity, ease of construction, and consequent low cost of manufacture are all quite obvious objects of the present invention, in the accompanying drawings illustrating which-- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the portion of the completed mat structure;

Fig. 2 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are side elevations of blockunits, each of said views showing different forms of slotting to provide compressive resilience.

Referring to the drawings in detail in which like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views: ii designates each of the blockunits comprising, with their connecting and spacing means hereinafter described, the mat structure.

Each block-unit 6 is slotted as at I through each of its respective ends longitudinally (Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5) and preferably equidistantly into the block-unit 6, the extent of the slotting being dependent upon the character of the material (preferably wood) of which the block-unit is constructed, it being apparent that some. kinds of material (wood or others) will permit adjacent ends of slots to be :much closer than as appearing in the drawings-which are not intended to indicate exact relative dimensions. Slots 1 may also be of different relative widths than as shown and may be of various contours or disposed at various angles to the bearing surfaces of the block-unit 6. In Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, by way of example, I have illustrated several forms, dispositions, and contours of such slots.

The completed mat consists of a plurality of such slotted block-units 6 assembled and secured in proper cooperative relationship as about to be described: Said block-units 6 at the respective ends of the mat (one end being indicated at 8) are separated from one another by cylindrical spacers 9, and are held in such spaced relationship at the ends 8 of the mat, and in partial rotatable contact with each other intermediate the ends of the mat, by wire Hl passing through holes ll in each of opposite ends of respective blockunits 6; and also, at the ends 8 of the mat, passing through the center of each of spacers 9.

One end portion of each wire it is bent, as at 12, at a right angle to lie parallel with the side of the first outside block-unit 6 through which it passes, and after then penetrating through holes I l in each successive block unit and spacer 9 (or, intermediate the ends of the mat, through successive block-units only) is again bent at a right angle, as at l3, to lie parallel with the side of the block-unit 6 on the opposite edge of the mat, being again bent as at M, at a right angle to enter hole H through the opposite end of the blockunit. After passing through and then returning, successively, through such opposite ends of block- 9 3 units 6, wire ill is again bent as at l5 at a right angle to lie parallel with the side of the blockunit 6 through which it first and last passed, terminating in slightly spaced abutting relationship with its opposite end on the same side of the mat. A sleeve It, preferably of metal, is clamped, soldered, welded, brazed, or otherwise secured by means Well known in the art around the adjacent ends of each of the wires in to securely hold them together and in position as illustrated in the drawing hereof.

It will be obvious that means other than those which I have described for holding the blockunits together or for securing rods or wires in place or for spacing the block-units at the ends of the mat as well as the placement, form, relative length, and disposition of the slots in the b1ock-unitsall may be varied from the specific forms shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a floor mat, a plurality of block-units, each of said block-units being provided with a slot extending from one end substantially longitudinally inward for a portion of the length of said block-unit adjacent lateral surfaces of ends of adjoining block-units overlapping each other, each of said block units having a separate hole therein adjacent one end thereof, and means extending through said holes hinging said overlapped edges together.

2. In a floor mat, a block-unit having a pair of substantially parallel slots extending into said block-unit from opposite ends thereof in different planes a suflicient distance to allow parts of said block-unit above said slots to, under weight, spring slightly, one of said slots being above the other for a portion of their respective lengths.

3. In a floor mat, an elongated block-unit having a pair of slots therein extending transversely of the block and opening through opposite ends thereof, respectively, the inner ends of said slots being at greater depth than the outermost ends thereof, said slots extending a sufficient distance into said block-unit to allow a slight springing under weight of the parts of said block-unit above said respective slots.

4. In a device of the character described, a block-unit having an upper tread surface and a slot extending the width of the block from one end thereof into said block, the outer end of said slot being nearer to the tread surface than the innermost portion thereof, whereby the part of the block-unit overhanging said slot is of greater strength at its inner end than at the outer end thereof, said slot extending sufficiently into said block-unit to allow a slight springing under weight of the parts of said block-unit above said slot.

5. In a floor mat, a block-unit composed of semi-resilient material and having an upper tread surface, a slot extending transversely through the block and from one edge thereof inwardly at an angle to the tread surface, the portion of said block overhanging said slot being flexible to a variable degree in proportion to the thickness thereof, said slot extending sufiiciently into said block-unit to allow appreciable springing under weight of the part of said block-unit above said slot, thus to provide resiliency.

6. In a floor mat, a block unit having a pair of substantially parallel slots extending into said block-unit from opposite ends thereof in different planes, one of said slots being above the other for a portion of their respective lengths, and holes extending transversely through said block, one of said holes being below the uppermost slot and the other of said holes being above the lowermost slot.

7. In a floor mat, a plurality of block-units composed of semi-flexible material and each having an upper tread surface, and parallel with said tread surface each having a pair of supporting surfaces adjacent its ends, the intervening portion between said supporting surfaces being in a plane above and parallel with said supporting surfaces, and a slot extending from each of said ends inwardly to increase flexibility of the portions of said block overhanging said slots, and means to flexibly connect said block-units together.

8. In a floor mat, a block-unit having a slot extending between its upper and lower surfaces intermediate its ends, and having a pair of separate holes adjacent opposite ends extending transversely therethrough, said slot opening through three lateral surfaces of said block-unit to impart a substantial degree of resilience to the portion of said block-unit above said slot.

9. In a floor mat, a block unit having supporting surfaces at opposite ends and an intervening portion disposed entirely above said supporting surfaces, said intervening portion having a slot extending longitudinally through a part of its length and opening through the sides thereof whereby the suspension of the intervening portion by the end supporting surfaces and the slot in the intervening portion impart a substantial degree of resiliency to said block unit, said block unit having a pair of separate parallel holes adjacent and above said supporting surfaces, respectively.

10. In a floor mat, a pair of block units, each having lower supporting surfaces at opposite ends and an intervening portion suspended entirely above said supporting surfaces by said ends, said intervening portion having a slot extending longitudinally through a part of its length and opening through the sides thereof whereby the suspension of the intervening portion by the end supporting surfaces and the slot in the intervening portion impart a substantial degree of resiliency to said block unit, each of said block units having a pair of separate, parallel holes adjacent and above said supporting surfaces, respectively, and means projecting through said holes of said block units to secure the same together in staggered relationship.

11. In a floor mat, a block unit composed of semi-flexible material and of greater thickness adjacent its ends than through the intervening portion thereof, the underside of each of said ends forming a supporting surface for the block unit with the intervening portion suspended therebetween, each end of said block unit being slotted to allow a slight springing under weight of the parts of said block unit above said slots whereby the slots and reduced thickness of the intervening portion supplement one another in providing resiliency in the entire block unit in response to pressure downwardly thereon.

12. In a floor mat, a block unit composed of semi-flexible material and of greater thickness adjacent its ends than through the intervening portion thereof, the underside of each of said ends forming a supporting surface for the block unit with the intervening portion suspended therebetween, said block unit having slots therein opening through opposite ends of the block unit and extending into said intervening portion to allow a slight springing, under weight, of the 5 parts of said block unit above said slots whereby the slots and reduced thickness of the intervening portion supplement one another in providing resiliency in the entire block in response to pressure downwardly thereon.

FRANZ N. MERRAHS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number 

